Australians OK with halal industry: PM

Tony Abbott is comfortable Australian companies are paying Islamic groups for halal certification, putting him at odds with two government MPs who want to curb the practice.

The prime minister believes Australians want to see certified agricultural businesses thrive by being able to export produce to Muslim countries.

"If we want our exports to grow all the time, this is what we need to do and I think that's what Australians want," Mr Abbott told reporters in Hobart following a visit to a halal-certified meat supplier on Monday.